1. British Transport Police –
Challenges and Solutions
Stephen Thomas QPM
Assistant Chief Constable, Operations
British Transport Police (BTP)

2. British Transport Police
Challenges and Solutions
Stephen Thomas
Assistant Chief Constable
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3. Challenges and Solutions
1. Disruption
Fatalities
Cable Theft
(At 6th March 2014 all disruption 508,403 minutes down from
525,747 minutes)
2. Theft of Passenger Property
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4. Fatalities - The Problem
• Increasing numbers of suicides and attempted
suicides
• Traditional Police approach – think Murder then
work down / Risk Averse / Coroner
• Complex and challenging incidents
• A rise in unexplained classifications
• High volume of disruption and delay
• Stranded passengers
• Public at risk – such as Passengers detraining

5. Fatality Scene

6. Fatalities
Action Taken and Lessons Learnt
• Process Map / Analyse / Review
• Academic Research
• Review Unexplained Fatality classifications
• Liaison with Chief Coroner for England & Wales
• New Fatality Management Guidance
• Purchased equipment to aid the partial re opening of the
railway including body coverings and cameras
• Training / awareness introduced for all BTP / Rail staff
• Introduction of Fatality Response Officers to support
scene activities and body recovery

7. Fatalities
Action Taken and Lessons Learnt
• Partnership Working – Samaritans, NHS, Industry
• CCTV – stations and trains
• Engineering Solutions – Reduce Vulnerability
• All fatalities are reviewed and lessons learnt and best
practice is captured and disseminated
• The same innovative approach to reducing all police
related disruption including trespass, people in
precarious positions, vandalism, graffiti and level
crossing misuse
• A strategy introduced to reduce primary and reactionary
disruption minutes

8. Fatalities- Success
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
(April – Feb)
Average Line
Hand Back
113min
83min
75mins
Unexplained
Classifications
101
30
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9. Cable Theft – The Problem
Cable Theft
• Metal theft increasing over past five years
• Driven by a growing global demand for metal
• Cash in hand disposal
• Deloitte: £220 – £260 Million
• ACPO: £770 Million
• HMRC: £1 Billion tax avoidance
• Network rail: £20 Million in last 3 years (£ 36 Million ??)
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10. Cable Theft – National Strategy
• Increase the effort required to steal metal – protective
security to reduce vulnerability
• Increase the risk to offenders – detection and targeted
enforcement
• Reduce the ease and reward to offenders of selling stolen
metal –stolen metal identification and reduced cash benefits
• Increase the risk to dealers of handling stolen goods –
greater responsibility to take all reasonable step
RESTICTED
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11. Cable Theft
Action Taken and Lessons Learnt
• Government Support Legislation and Budget (DfT £5m,
HO £750k)
• Network Rail / Partnership Working / SMDA
• ACPO Metal Theft Working Group / Taskforce
• Fusion Intelligence Unit
• Regional Network / Bids Panel
• Days of Action - 25 (33 Police Forces)
• Op Tornado – SMD Voluntary Scheme
• Operation Baltic – Ports
• Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 (1st October – 1st December)
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12. Cable Theft - Success
Network Rail National Performance
Cable Theft Impact Summary - Last 3 Years
Incidents
Delays
Cost
2011/12
845
344,680
£12,000,679
2012/13
287
160,271
£5,823,646
2013/14
168
61,092
£2,255,703
1,300
566,043
£20,080,028
Total
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13. Theft of Passenger Property –
The Problem
Despite an overall downward trend in crime in recent years,
Theft of Passenger Property (TPP) was on the increase
2010/11
16,608
2011/12
14,892
2012/13
17,481
This shows a 5.26% increase from 2010/11 and a 17.39%
increase from 2011/12.
7 March 2013 - Operation Magnum on London Underground
10 June 2013 – Operation Magnum nationally
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14. Theft of Passenger Property –
The Problem
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Theft from the person
Theft on train
Mobile phones the most attractive item for thieves
End of line reporting an issue
Intelligence gaps around the criminal market
Mixture of planned thefts and opportunistic thefts
Mixture of individuals and groups
Mixture of domestic and foreign offenders but a trend
for Eastern European offenders especially in London
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15. Theft of Passenger Property
Action Taken and Lessons Learnt
• Intelligence led directed patrols –uniform and covert
• Increase the risk to offenders – detection and targeted
enforcement
• Anticipate spikes of reported crime and plan accordingly
• Explore the market and reduce cash benefits to offenders
• Increase the risk to dealers of handling stolen goods
• Partnership / joint industry and police working
• Public information to reduce vulnerability
• Exploit Technology – tracking / identification / CCTV
• IMEI and/or Serial Number - investigations and
repatriation of property to owners
• Focus on Lost Property Offices
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16. Theft of Passenger Property –
Public Information Materials
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